LaPorte County crash investigation a detailed process

Process may take a year in accidents such as that in LaPorte County.

Process may take a year in accidents such as that in LaPorte County.

November 16, 2006|JOSHUA STOWE Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Investigating a plane crash such as the one Monday night in LaPorte County is a "painstaking" process, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday. The accident killed all five people on board. The victims were returning to Iowa after a business meeting in the area, and officials still are trying to determine what caused the crash. "These are very detailed, painstaking investigations, and they're very thorough," said Paul Schlamm, as he described how the NTSB looks into crashes. "We try to learn as much as we can from each accident." Investigators begin by examining the crash scene and determining whether any items from the wreckage need to be sent for testing, he said. They then take the wreckage to a nearby facility, where it can be stored and further examined. Typically, Schlamm said, the NTSB teams up with the Federal Aviation Administration and the aircraft and engine manufacturers as it looks into an accident. Officials document weather conditions at the time of the crash and examine radar and radio communications records, he said. In addition, he said, they talk to people who witnessed the accident, double-check the pilot's training and experience, and scour the plane's service and maintenance records. "They'll gather all that data," Schlamm said. After that, he said, the reports start coming. The first, which is usually ready a week to 10 days after the accident, is a brief preliminary summary of what happened. The more detailed factual report comes next -- generally five to six months later -- Schlamm said. Not long after that, the final report appears, revealing what officials believe caused the accident. But it can take a year, depending on the case, for the NTSB to complete its investigation, Schlamm said. That's because the agency has only about 40 inspectors in nine regional offices who handle small-plane crashes, he said. Together, those inspectors generally handle an annual workload of about 1,700 to 1,800 crashes. The FAA plays an important role in such investigations, said Elizabeth Isham Cory, a spokeswoman for the agency. Specifically, the FAA has to determine whether there was a violation of aviation regulations and whether regulations were adequate, she said. The agency also must look into a number of possible crash factors. The NTSB may make recommendations during or after an investigation in an effort to prevent similar crashes, Schlamm said. As of late Wednesday afternoon, he said, he had heard no new details from Pam Sullivan, the NTSB investigator for the LaPorte County crash. Earlier this week, Sullivan said all media inquiries into the progress of the crash investigation should go through the NTSB's public affairs office, for which Schlamm works.